Petco pops up in Mission Viejo, preschool opens in Lake Forest

The new Petco pet supply store in Mission Viejo is stocked with Halloween-themed accessories for pets. CHRISTOPHER YEE, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of 4

Mission Viejo's new Petco pet supply store is meant to feel like several little stores within the bigger store. The pet food section looks akin to a supermarket. CHRISTOPHER YEE, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

South County residents love their pets. This observation is based own my on anecdotal evidence, but you can’t tell me you haven’t seen countless neighbors parading their puppies all about town.

So it makes sense that the newest addition to the Trabuco Hills Center on Santa Margarita Parkway in Mission Viejo is a Petco pet supply store. This new location almost splits the distance between the closest big box pet supply stores, which are the PetSmart stores in Foothill Ranch and Rancho Santa Margarita.

Despite that big-box pedigree, this new Petco location was designed to make customers feel like they’re shopping at the corner store, not a warehouse. To achieve this effect, the store has been divided into small, intricately designed enclaves that are intended to feel like stores-within-a-store, according to store manager Bryan Harris.

Whereas old stores would divide products by animal – all the dog stuff on one side, all the cat stuff on the other – this store puts all the food in one place, all the collars in another place and so on. In addition, the grooming and adoption centers practically have their own storefronts within the store, and the front counter’s wood accents and display cases make it feel like a general store.

Eight-year Petco grooming veteran Danielle Hernandez was working at a store in Westminster when Harris recruited her for the Mission Viejo location. Hernandez lives in Anaheim, so she initially turned down the offer to change workplaces. But eventually, she saw the new location, met some of the locals and gave in.

“People down here really love their pets, and they show it,” said Hernandez, the store’s grooming manager.

With Halloween only a few weeks away, Petco’s prepared with plenty of pet costumes. I texted my sister to see if the family dog, a white Shiba Inu named Teddy, would wear a headband bearing the ears of Star Wars’ venerable Jedi master, Yoda.

She very quickly shot me down, so I bought Teddy a stuffed Chewbacca toy instead. The Stormtrooper iteration looked more durable, but how could I resist a Chewie chew toy?

NEW PRESCHOOL STRESSES ACADEMICS THROUGHOUT DAY

Although the traditional school year is in full swing for most youngsters, that isn’t stopping a new Montessori preschool from opening in Lake Forest.

Montessori Ace Preschool, just off El Toro Road at 24602 Raymond Way, will provide children with the freedom to choose activities that defines Montessori schools, but it will also include a strong academic framework throughout the day, according to Administrator Dharmendra Pal.

Most preschools provide academic learning early in the day and open the rest of the time for play, Pal said, which means that children who only attend afternoon sessions often miss out on those academics. The school offers Spanish, French, sign language and ballet classes among others.

Executive Director Seema Choudhary developed her academic-focused curriculum for her first preschool, Montessori Funtime Preschool, in Irvine and has made no specific changes in bringing it to Lake Forest. But Pal points out that the curriculum is always changing based on what parents ask for.

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.